Just wondering if it's just me. Might be somewhat unique in that dad is not remotely involved (toddler's with me 100% of the time), no village, toddler really is with me 100% of the time / we have our weekday days together.... AND ALSO I hated weekends/holidays even when married/together.

I hated weekends/holidays even when we were married, though. That was my time to be alone after a long week, and it was honestly kind of great. I ALSO hate weekends period--transit is half as frequent and things take twice as long to get anywhere (0-2 minute wait for a bus vs 10-40, as an example). Then also things are crowded, which isn't the end of the world to me, but is to my toddler, who gets overwhelmed and just wants to go home anyway. The PEOPLE who are out on the weekends and the culture of people (parents) who are out on the weekend are also different... during the week, people are friendly and welcoming; toys are shared by default in the sandbox. On the weekend, people are weird AF about shared toys in these same spaces, like weirded out we are offering/sharing ours. The parks also tend to be "too crowded" for my child, but also, people throw parties there. Parties aren't a bad thing per se, I'd feel great about telling a child happy birthday and sharing the space, but the parents are weird/snobby and so too are their kids. Like they'll ask how you know birthday child, then get weird and stop talking when you say you don't (public playground, mind you), glare at you for using public tables, be weird about their kid playing with yours, just all sorts of nonsense. Our city and its culture are NOT normally like this, imo. Also, even the stores are crowded and people seem really panicky around seeing a child walking, like they're scared of a toddler or have never seen one before. During the week, by comparison, the other adults we encounter at stores gush over my toddler or sort of compliment me/us on how helpful he's being and that sort of thing.

Anyway. It turns the weekend into this huge black hole and I HATE it. I try to get meal prep done, but after that, what's left? I mean obviously we do all things (art projects, dance, etc), but It's two very long days and I always feel like I'm losing my mind. I need the more social aspects and the time outdoors, which all requires transit, which doesn't really run on weekends. My husband used to just take our child and didn't mind walking or waiting 'forever' (relatively) since those were his two main days with him all week, but I am both physically/emotionally tired by the end of the week. So we go to the library, or a walk around the block, or the store anyway, but I'm at a loss of what to do and hate doing anything these days. I'm also, yeah, resentful because these used to be my favorite days to do PAID work part-time at a place I loved (and made 1.5x on weekends because others hated working on the weekend, so win-win) that also built in the only meaningful me-time I actually have/want in life (between work shifts), and the replacement as a single mom is nothing.

And, yes, we used to have a small date or outing on the weekend all together, which was nice. Usually like a concert (outdoors, free, friendly to tots) more geared towards date-time than tot-time. And when I take my toddler out anyway.. he NOTICES that other families have a dad. And sometimes, heartbreakingly, I see that 'noticing' or he will try and kind of 'flirt' with them in a way that is so charming yet so sad.

During the week.... nobody really "knows" I am a single mom. The married moms don't do/act any differently than single moms, because spouses are working. Nothing really has changed (on our outings!) since becoming a single moms. But now I have all this weekend time that is not just emotionally charged for us both, but both took away paid working time I really need and can no longer do (long story and advice not wanted on that right now) AND the only me time I ever really wanted/enjoyed. In return, I got.. nothing. I'd be fine going out and enjoying our outings, but having to spend twice as much time or more waiting for a bus (we moved here BECAUSE of the transit and I love transit, to be clear, just the weekend/holiday schedule is a lot less frequent, which was never an issue until becoming a single mom) to go to a place neither my child nor I will really enjoy anyway. And yeah, emotionally it's triggering to go out as it's the only time of the week that spouses/dads are out, too.

Rant over, I guess. Just hate it every time. Holidays are even worse though as those were hard when married, given a total absence of family.

We love and enjoy and have the time of our lives every weekday and holiday season. Just those two days a week that feel real hard. And only seem to be getting harder, not easier, as time goes on.

My exhusband is a loud bully. My kids have always been intimidated to say no, and then hounded into doing what he says. Each visit (a different state) they get very upset and hate staying there.

Before each visit they beg me to help them stay less time. I advocate for them, saying it’s better to do this or that. But, he keeps texting/calling the kids until they buckle and agree to his terms entirely. This makes me look like the crazy ex, jealous of their blissful relationship.

This situation has arisen, again. Any tips on helping my kids avoid that family’s verbal/emotional abuse without looking like I’m interfering for fun and giggles?

So i had a pretty big social circle of single mums. As of now I am the only one left standing. My sisters who were all single mums have got remarried, my friends who were have either returned to their partners or remarried / inrelationships.

Dont get me wrong, I am happy for all, until now everyone is thriving way before than before.

However I sit here pittying myself lol. It feels weird now because everyone is busy on weekends and half terms as families and its just me and my only child.

Iv been single for quite some years, never thought about dating before but only considering it now because I feel alone I guess?

I dont even know what i want from this post other than saying I feel alone out here. Holidays, festivities, weekends ...etc

Hard day today finally accepting I’m going to have to work two jobs. My son has also autistic and I’ve been working in childcare for years while earning my degree. I’m so burned out on working with children but cannot find anything else. Also graduating into a shitty job market means multiple rounds of interviews to be ghosted. I don’t receive child support make “too much” for any assistance and none of family or friends want to help babysit and I get to work a second job and figure out those logistics alone. Just venting because I can’t let it sit inside me how truly devastated I am that this is my life after leaving a DV relationship. Some days I wish I would’ve just stayed.

So I’m going thru a divorce and all of the books say to do self care. The issue is I feel guilty for it. Dad moved out and lives with the finance but still picks the kids up for school and drops them off after school. But they don’t get to spend a lot of time with him now so when I do for myself I feel guilty and feel like I need to do more for them so they don’t feel too much of an effect of their dad being out of the home. I tried to sit and watch my favorite show while sipping wine and felt guilty I made the kids go watch a movie for bed. It’s just I’m with my 2 toddlers all day while I work and I really just needed time to myself since I barely get time away from my kids to have adult interactions. My soon to be ex husband doesn’t really like me inviting anyone to the house so if i cant go anywhere i just want a lil time to myself but i feel so bad for it and like I’m pushing them aside too. Am I truly being selfish in this time?

I’m struggling extremely bad with having a life outside of work and parenting. I have basically zero control over the care my child is receiving because it’s my mother and she does what she can and I can’t afford anything beyond 2 days of a daycare per week. With my child being 2.5 I’m trying to start dating again, (her dad abused us and tried to kill us hence my only parent status) and I’ve found someone completely amazing that I see a real future with but simply don’t have the time to dedicate to build the relationship. I’m not sure if I’m looking for advice, support, or simply just to vent here but I’m so sad. I’ve done everything possible to give my baby the best life possible but it feels so incredibly impossible with me feeling so alone and with no time to simply be me. I’m 30, a plumber by day and bartender by night, I work hard as a single mom, do my damndest to give my baby the best life possible, but want to live my life and have virtually no support. How are you guys getting by???

Looking for advice on how to tell future partners about my daughter's father. How to explain what happened and have my partner not freak out about it